Michael Fassbender’s beard gets mixed Twitter reviews at BAFTAs

Michael Fassbender won an Empire Award in London for "12 Years a Slave."Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images

Michael Fassbender didn’t take home a prize at the BAFTAs in London on Sunday night, but he did start a brief Twitter buzz thanks to his bright and bushy beard.

#Fassbeard was trending a bit during the BAFTAs – Britain’s equivalent of our Oscars – with folks either loving or hating Fass’s new look. He grew out his facial hair for his starring role in Macbeth, which he’s currently shooting with Marion Cotillard.

“Michael Fassbender at the BAFTAs with an unkempt beard. For a good looking man he’s looking quite unattractive,” one Twitter user hissed.

Others were more kind. “Fassbender is rocking a Van Gogh beard. Still would ..... Always would,” one female fan posted.

We’d agree! The 36-year-old, raised in Co. Kerry, has been so busy these days that he’s hardly had time to enjoy awards season. He earned his first Oscar nod this year for 12 Years a Slave, but he’s not considered a Best Supporting Actor favorite (that honor will likely go to Jared Leto of Dallas Buyers Club).

Earning the nomination was a thrill, but Fassbender said late last year that if he made the final Oscar five, he wouldn’t be aggressively campaigning for the statuette like so many of his peers do. He tried that route a few years back with his acclaimed starring role in Shame, but he wound up with zip and seemingly learned his lesson.

“You know, I get it. Everybody’s got to do their job. So you try and help and facilitate as best you can. But I won’t put myself through that kind of situation again,” Fassbender told GQ in November.

“It’s just a grind. And I’m not a politician. I’m an actor.”

He clearly enjoyed himself at the BAFTAs, though, hanging with likes of fellow nominee Bradley Cooper, and taking selfies with Oprah Winfrey and Emma Thompson at a post-awards bash.

Michael Fassbender won an Empire Award in London for "12 Years a Slave."Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images